Introduction:- The text 'Freemasonry's External
Relations' explains relations between the United Grand Lodge of England ('Grand
Lodge') and other Masonic bodies. It shows what constitutes Masonic regularity.
The following text examines the attitude of regular Freemasonry to public
affairs.

Regularity:- The basic principles or rules governing
the recognition of a Grand Lodge as regular were codified by Grand Lodge and
the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland (the 'Home Grand Lodges') in 1929.
They include a requirement that the 'discussion of religion and politics within
the Lodge shall be strictly prohibited'. The phrase 'within the Lodge' should
not be interpreted narrowly but extends to Masonic circumstances generally,
and must be read in the light of paragraph 6 of Aims and Relationships of
the Craft.

Aims and Relationships of the Craft:- The aims
and relationships of the Craft (i.e. Freemasonry as practised under a Grand
Lodge) have been explained from time to time in the Press in the British Isles,
particularly in formal statements (in identical terms except for national
names) issued by the Home Grand Lodges in 1938. Relevant paragraphs of Grand
Lodge's statements are as follows:

6. While English Freemasonry thus inculcates
in each of its members the duties of loyalty and citizenship, it reserves
to the individual the right to hold his own opinion with regard to public
affairs. But neither in any Lodge, nor at any time in his capacity as a Freemason,
is he permitted to discuss or to advance his views on theological or political
questions.

7. The Grand Lodge has always consistently refused
to express any opinion on questions of foreign or domestic State policy either
at home or abroad, and it will not allow its name to be associated with any
action, however humanitarian it may appear to be, which infringes its unalterable
policy of standing aloof from every question affecting the relations between
political parties, or questions as to rival theories of government.

8. The Grand Lodge is aware that there do exist
bodies, styling themselves Freemasons, which do not adhere to these principles,
and while that attitude exists the Grand Lodge of England refuses absolutely
to have any relations with such bodies, or to regard them as Freemasons.

In 1949 the Home Grand Lodges formally confirmed
that they stood by their statements, particularly paragraph 7. Their opinion
has not changed.

Public Affairs:- The basic principles and the
statement of Freemasonry's aims show that the rule that forbids Masonic discussion
of politics is designed to prevent regular Freemasonry becoming involved in
any way in affairs of State, whether they are domestic or external. Great
care must be taken to ensure that nothing is done that might allow it even
to seem to be so involved.

Grand Lodges which ignore these principles are
not conducting themselves regularly and cannot expect to be or to remain recognised.

References:- The full 'basic principles' and
the statement on the aims and relationships of the Craft are printed in Grand
Lodge's Book of Constitutions and Masonic Year Book. Basic principles are
re-stated in Grand Lodge's leaflet 'Freemasonry's External Relations'.